As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
The empty vessel makes the loudest sound.
Interpretation
People who have little knowledge often make the most noise.
This quote by Shakespeare suggests that those who are the least informed or knowledgeable often speak the loudest, drawing attention to themselves. It serves as a reminder to listen closely, as those who are truly wise may be more reflective and less prone to boastfulness.
In practice
During a debate, a participant used this quote to highlight the importance of informed opinions.
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
To recognize one's own insanity is, of course, the arising of sanity, the beginning of healing and transcendence.
Thoughts are like drops of water: with our thoughts we can drown in a sea of negativity, or we can float on the ocean of life.
Negative emotions are like unwelcome guests. Just because they show up on our doorstep doesn't mean they have a right to stay.
He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.
I was born not knowing and have had only a little time to change that here and there.
There are two good rules which ought to be written on every heart - never to believe anything bad about anybody unless you positively know it to be true; never to tell even that unless you feel that it is absolutely necessary, and that God is listening.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.